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Cheeky Sparrow


Cheeky Sparrow
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1406] (4831)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-03 15:10
Viewed: 615
Points: 39
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Everyone

The House Sparrow, or Cheeky Sparrow as we always call them, sorry about the missing feet he was resting on a tree but behind a fence so you couldn't see his Feet and the fence looked a bit ugly so I cropped it out.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe and much of Asia. It has also followed humans all over the world and has been intentionally or accidentally introduced to most of the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa and Australia as well as urban areas in other parts of the world.

In the United States it is also known as the English Sparrow, to distinguish it from native species, as the large North American population is descended from birds deliberately imported from Britain in the late 19th century. They were introduced independently in a number of American cities in the years between 1850 and 1875 as a means of pest control.

Wherever people build, House Sparrows sooner or later come to share their abodes. Though described as tame and semi-domestic, neither is strictly true; humans provide food and home, not companionship. The House Sparrow remains wary of man. A more proper term is 'synanthropic'.

This 14 to 16 centimetre long bird is abundant in temperate climates, but not universally common; in many hilly districts it is scarce. In cities, towns and villages, even around isolated farms, it can be the most abundant bird.

The male House Sparrow has a grey crown, cheeks and underparts, black on the throat, upper breast and between the bill and eyes. The bill in summer is blue-black, and the legs are brown. In winter the plumage is dulled by pale edgings, and the bill is yellowish brown. The female has no black on head or throat, nor a grey crown; her upperparts are streaked with brown. The juveniles are deeper brown, and the white is replaced by buff; the beak is dull yellow. The House Sparrow is often confused with the smaller and slimmer Tree Sparrow, which, however, has a chestnut and not grey crown, two distinct wing bars, and a black patch on each cheek.

The House Sparrow is gregarious at all seasons in its nesting colonies, when feeding and in communal roosts.

Although the Sparrows' young are fed on the larvae of insects, often destructive species, this species eats seeds, including grain where it is available.

In spring, flowers — especially those with yellow colours — are often eaten; crocuses, primroses and aconites seem to attract the house sparrow most. The bird will also hunt butterflies.

The Sparrow's most common call is a short and incessant chirp. It also has a double call note phillip which originated the now obsolete name of "phillip sparrow". While the young are in their nests, the older birds utter a long churr. At least three broods are reared in the season.

Notes from Wilkipedia.com
nglen, Argus, JoseMiguel, fartash, dew77, angybone, glazzaro, marmottelolo, izler, iris, Tamrock has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2007-06-03 15:13]

Hi Hilary, A very nice shot of the Sparrow. very close up. good detail and colour. great light in the eyes. with a nice POV and DOF. Great notes again from you. Thanks

Nick..

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2597 W: 133 N: 7441] (23193)
  • [2007-06-03 15:19]

Hello Hilary,
This one is funny! Sharp capture of a cock sparrow against a pleasing Bg with a pose that is almost unique to give this House Sparrow a human cockiness.
Fine lighting, detail and composition.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hi Hilary,
A great capture of this sparrow!
Very good the close approach to the bird, and the pose catched.
It's a pitty when we had great poses when standing over a fence, I have lots of that, but it works pretty well the way you managed to make the crop.
I like very much the nicely blurred background got.
There are some minor areas slightly OE on the white plumage.
Well done and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

Hello Hilary
Excellent portrait of this House Sparrow,
Perfect lighting and details,
Great DOF and BG, Welldone.

Good luck
Fartash

That's wonderful, Hilary,
so close - so many details to see, that's realy lovely, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-06-03 15:57]

Hello Hilary,
Beautiful capture of this sparrow.POV,clear eyes,BG and framing are excellent.
TFS..:-)

Oh "She who talks to birds",
Another good one. I can't get within 100 feet of a bird it seems...maybe I carry cat scent with me since I live with several members of the feline persuasion.

This is a great clear shot - good composition. You manage to capture the greatest detail and your subjects never seem alerted to your presence.

Hi Hilary,
Well if I ever shoot a house sparrow, would you mind if I call it "Howard's Cheeky Sparrow" ;}}
I like your "cheeky" pose very much. Great color, exposure, and detail..
Howard

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
  • [2007-06-04 4:42]

Hi Hilary,
a great shot of this Sparrow.
Brilliant DOF and the POV is interesting.
Well done,
Joey

p.s thankyou for adding me as a favourite! :))

Belle photo de ce bel oiseau qui semble fort commun, mais qui méritte sa photo. Amitiés Thomas

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2007-06-04 10:28]

Hi Hilary.
What a funny and curious sparrow. Its pose is simply amazing as well as the framing, cropping. Very nice lighting, colour palette including colourfulness of BG. I also like your very interesting note o such common subject. My best wishes and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2007-06-04 13:40]

Wow Hilary great POV for your sparrow shot. Lovely composition and nicely sharp. Good DOF as well

TFS

Karan

Cheeky pose for this boy sparrow .Some good pics in your gallery.TFS
Julian

Magnifique avec le reflet dasn son oeil, et beau BG.
Bravo
Marie

Well taken, good exposure.

Greg

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-06-05 7:46]

Hello Hil

A very good portrait shot of this house sparrow.Wonderful detail and colour saturation.Very good eye contact.TFS

Rob BL

bonjour hilary
cela manque un peu de details a mon avis mais j'aime beaucoup la pose de l'oiseau qui semble chercher a savoir s'il ne craint rien là ou il est.
laurent

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1262 W: 78 N: 871] (7870)
  • [2007-06-06 10:54]

selam hilary
well portrait capturing of this cute sparrow
i like eye contact, point of view, blurred background, colours, details and framing
thanks for sharing
selamlar
izler

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 40 N: 730] (2302)
  • [2007-06-07 11:49]

Hello Hilary
A really "cheeky" looking sparrow portrait.
Interesting posture and great details.The BG is good too.
These birds are such common ones all over the world, and each time you see them they look great enough for a hundred shots...

TFS & Cheers

hi hilary!
nice shot on the sparrow!
sharp and with a very
nice background!
well done!

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